Are you excited for your first long-haul truck trip but worried about the journey at the same time? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Here at WTX Truck Repair, LLC we understand that worry more than anyone. After all, we are a truck repair service provider and we’ve met our fair share of truck drivers that needed roadside assistance in the wee hours of the morning.
The good news is that you don’t have to just sit around feeling nervous, worrying about everything that might go wrong without doing anything. You can actually prepare in advance before you start travelling through your coast-to-coast truck routes!
Here’s how you can prepare for long-haul drives on your truck for your peace of mind and overall safety.
Plan Ahead
Any experienced trucker knows that planning ahead and preparing for extended hours is crucial for survival in the truck-driving industry. Before accepting a load, you should first find out the distance of the trip as well as the expected delivery date. Also check out the weather of the areas you’ll pass on your route so you can prepare for any delays brought about by weather disturbances. Calculate the time you’re going to spend on driving, eating, and sleeping. To be safe, always add in a few hours as leeway to make sure you’ll still arrive at your destination on time despite any delays you may not have prepared for. Planning ahead is essential. Not only will it help your trip go smoothly but planning ahead can also help decrease your stress levels.
Double Check Your Equipment
A rule of thumb you should always go by before setting out on a long-haul drive is to check all of your equipment to make sure they’re all in good working order. Long drive trucking maintenance significantly reduces your chances of experiencing a vehicular malfunction out of the blue. Checking your truck’s condition before driving out helps make your long-distance drive successful and stress-free. It will also help you catch potential problems before they worsen and cause accidents. Aside from checking to see that all of your truck’s parts are in perfect health, you should also have with you a survival kit.
A survival kit can have any combination of the following:
- First-aid kit
- A tool kit for emergency repairs
- Tire gauges, tire thumpers, tire plug kits, jumper cables, air hoses
- Extra fuel, replacement headlights
- A chain or thick towing rope
- Electric charger wire
- Flashlight
- Screwdrivers and wrenches of different sizes
- Bungee cords
- Pliers
- Hammer
Preparing and storing this kit before your drive ensures your safety on the road no matter the circumstances.
Invest In Your Health
When you’re a trucker, your job is to sit down all day, which can easily take a toll on your health. Stay healthy and fit by putting in the effort to work out and eat right. Fill your cab with nutritious food and a trusty cooler to get you through the long, arduous journey of long-haul driving.
Have Emergency Numbers Ready On Speed Dial
Lastly, it’s okay to admit that you really can’t prepare for everything. After you’ve done your due diligence and prepared all the necessary kits and tools for your safety, the only thing left you can do is ensure you can call for help when you need it the most. Have emergency numbers of the areas you’ll be passing through on your route and have them on speed dial on your phone. You should also consider contacting trusted roadside service and repair shops nearby if the need ever arises.
NEED HELP WEATHERPROOFING YOUR TRUCK?
At WTX Truck Repair, LCC, we provide quality truck repair in Odessa, TX. You can rely on our team to provide expert service and fast repairs. We are experienced with most makes and models of trucks, having worked on them all. Whether you need preventive maintenance or serious repairs, our experts will restore your vehicle’s original charm. We can accurately diagnose all mechanical problems. Our goal is to make sure your vehicle rides like new by identifying and implementing the right repair solutions.
We are a veteran owned and operated truck repair company straight out of Texas, offering 24 hour roadside service and repair. We service trucks, trailers, reefers, buses, and heavy equipment. Trust that our mechanics can get you back on the road as safely and as quickly as possible when you avail of our services. For easy and trustworthy truck maintenance in Odessa, TX, contact WTX Truck Repair, LLC at (432) 444-3284 or get a direct quote from our website.
